Prop Spencer signs improved Centurions deal

Mark Taylor

LEIGH have upgraded the contract of Tom Spencer in a bid to fend off interest from other clubs in the former Wigan prop.

Spencer has signed a new deal which takes him to the end of 2016 and will also see him go full-time from next season.

He is the third player to commit to a full-time contract with Leigh following similar deals for half-backs Ryan Brierley and Martyn Ridyard,

Leigh signed Spencer on a 12-month contract from Wigan at the end of last year. In total he has been with Centurions for three seasons either as a dual registration player or on loan from Warriors.

In that time he has established himself as a first team regular and his consistency and industry mark him out as one of the best props in the Kingstone Press Championship.

Leigh coach Paul Rowley said: “It is no secret that we are looking to bring the average age of the squad down and Tom Spencer is a player in that category who we wanted to secure.

“Although he was with us as a dual registration player from Wigan he bought into what we were about and was always regarded as one of us.

“He has been a consistent performer for Leigh Centurions for three years. We didn’t want to waste time in signing him so am delighted to have him on board.

“He is committed and contagious and has the right attitude. He is just the sort of player we want at the club.”

Leigh’s head of rugby Derek Beaumont was delighted to have secured Spencer amid reported interest in the prop from several Super League clubs.

“It is no secret that last year when we started to assemble the squad we wanted Tom Spencer to be part of it,” he said.

“He played for us on dual registration from Wigan last year and as far as we are concerned that has now gone and we are masters of our own destiny.

“We don’t know who our opponents might field as dual registration players but we know who we are putting out on the field.

“We signed Tom on a one year deal and in his time with us has been fully behind what we are doing at the club. Tom was the obvious person to be the next one to secure his long term future with Leigh Centurions following Brierley and Ridyard. I am delighted that he has extended his contract for another two years.”